Lovett hits grand slam as Lady Tigers win slugfest over West Union

It was a three-hour marathon game that saw the McClain varsity softball team defeat visiting West Union 22-18 on Daryle Unger Memorial Field Tuesday night in Greenfield.

Things didn’t start well for McClain to start the game when West Union scored five runs on six hits in the top of the first inning when they batted around and sent 10 batters to the plate.

The Lady Tigers answered with three runs in the bottom of first when they scored three runs on four hits with freshman Leah Lovett having the big hit, a two-run double, scoring Harley Peabody and Kenzie Wise.

After McClain starting pitcher Gracie Bowers retired the side in order in the top of the second, the Lady Tigers plated three more runs on just a single hit to take a 6-5 lead.

Both teams failed to dent the plate in the third inning, but West Union batted around again in the top of the fourth after 14 batters went to the plate and scored 10 runs on eight hits, giving them a 15-6 advantage.

The Lady Tigers picked up two runs in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI double by Kenzie Wise and a run-scoring single off the bat of Kenedi Wise.

Kenzie Wise came in to pitch and set down the side in the top of the fifth, and the Lady Tigers put together their best inning of the game in the bottom half when they scored nine runs on seven hits to take a 17-15 lead.

McClain batted around sending 14 girls to the plate with Lovett again having the big hit, this time a bases-clearing grand slam, giving her six RBIs in the game. Senior Jaden McCoy also had a leadoff triple and a single in the inning, and she scored two runs in the inning.

Just when it looked like the Lady Tigers had a little breathing room, West Union came right back with three runs in the top of the sixth on three hits and regained the lead 18-17. But in the bottom of the sixth, McClain put the game away by scoring five runs on four hits, with Bowers and Peabody both drilling doubles to drive in runs.

Kenzi Wise closed out the game for the Lady Tigers on the mound, retiring the West Union batters without giving up a run, and McClain prevailed, picking up the hard-earned 22-18 non-league victory.

Eight Lady Tigers registered two or more hits in the game, led by Kenzi Wise, who was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with a double and five RBIs. Leah Lovett also had a huge game for McClain, going 2-for-4 with a double and grand slam, and she also drove in five runs in the contest.

The final score reminded most of a football game with a total of 40 runs being scored, resulting from both teams having big offensive scoring innings and both teams batting around.

“I’ve been coaching baseball and softball for 25 years now, and I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of game like this one today,” McClain head coach Ed Bolender said after the game. “Our kids showed a lot of guts today. After falling behind big in the early inning, they could have folded a couple of times, but we just kept swinging and stayed positive, and it was really good to see us hit the ball that well today.

“All of the girls really barreled things up and made good contact for the most part, and that was the good thing, but defensively we’ve still got a lot of things we need to clean up.

“West Union also hit the ball pretty well too,” Bolender continued. “We’ve got to quit giving up free bases and get outs when we have the opportunities.

“Leah (Lovett), who’s only a freshman really got into that one, and I thought she had one earlier that went off the base of the fence. She’s having an extremely good year for us, and she’s really fun to coach and watch. Kenzi Wise got the win on the mound and also had a great day at the plate going 5-for-5, with a double and 5 RBIs, along with Ava Beatty, who went 2-for-4 with a double and 4 RBIs.”

Other batting leaders in the game for McClain were Harley Peabody, 3-for-5; Kenedi Wise, 2-for-4, 3 RBIs; Brie Cummins, 2-for-5; Jaden McCoy, 3-for-4 (triple); and Gracie Bowers, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs.

McClain played at Miami Trace Wednesday, April 19, then returns home Thursday, April 20 to play Paint Valley before traveling to Jackson Friday, April 21.